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Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Love One Another

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” John 13:34&35

That was Jesus' commandment that He gave while speaking to His disciples. He said love, as I have loved you. How does Jesus love?

1) He loves unconditionally (Romans 5:8)

2) Sacrificially (2 Cor. 5:21)

3) With forgiveness (Eph. 4:32)

4) Eternally (Romans 8:38-39)

Jesus' love is holy (spiritually pure). The culmination of Jesus' amazing love for us is in His death on the cross, burial, and bodily resurrection (1 John 4:9-10). Believers are to love each other like that. HOW can we love like Christ? HOW is that possible? The believer in Christ has the Holy Spirit living within him (1 Cor. 6:19-20). By obeying the Spirit, through the Word of God, the believer can love as Christ loves. Not just friends, family members etc... but even enemies! What??!!! Ugh!! How on earth? Well, we can't do it on our own! In order to love like Christ, there must be a change of heart. We must realize that we are sinners before God, understand that Christ died on the cross and rose again to provide forgiveness and make Christ our personal Savior. At that point, we are forgiven through Christ and receive God's gift of eternal life.

To love one another is to love fellow believers as Christ loves us. Those who love like Christ in the Holy Spirit's power will give evidence that they are His disciples. GOD gives us the strength and ability to love others (Phil. 4:13).

So, my friends, THIS is what I'm working on....that God will change MY heart. Why? Because I want to please Him and obey His commandments. AND because He LOVES me! And He loves YOU too.